Chapter 164: Keeping It Ready for You

He scratched his head, feeling that he couldn’t just leave things with such a dry sentence; he had to explain clearly why he had said those words earlier.

Thus, he spoke again: “I just didn’t react for a moment. You’ve read my storybooks; the protagonists in them usually spend a period of time in a relationship before discussing marriage. It’s very rare for people to marry without ever having met, or to marry after only meeting once.”

“So, when I heard you two suddenly mention marriage, I was a bit dazed. I wondered if I had somehow forgotten a chunk of time in the middle.”

Yun Huizhou had read all of Lian Li’s storybooks, so hearing Lian Li put it this way, he understood what he meant.

This kid sometimes had many ideas that differed from others. Although he wouldn’t judge those who thought differently, his own convictions were not easily shaken.

Regardless, as long as this kid was serious about being in a relationship with him, it was fine.

As for their differing perspectives, they could simply communicate more in the future.

Thinking this, Yun Huizhou did not intend to pressure Lian Li into discussing marriage right now. Just as he was about to change the subject and see the South Island Lord off, the South Island Lord spoke up again.

He tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes. “But didn’t you say the two of you were serious about being together? Since you are so serious, it’s only natural that you should marry.”

Lian Li choked for a moment. Knowing the South Island Lord meant well, he spoke up: “Of… Of course we will marry, it’s just a little later. We’ve only just gotten together, and our relationship has only just shifted. Our way of interacting will certainly need to change, so we need to harmonize with each other first.”

The South Island Lord gave an “oh” and added, “But marriage isn’t something that can be settled today and held tomorrow. If you want a grand ceremony, choosing an auspicious date and making preparations will take several months from start to finish.”

“If you want to marry and start preparing now, it would be the end of the year at the earliest before it could be held. That should be enough time to harmonize.”

Lian Li: “…”

Lian Li looked at Yun Huizhou, his eyes full of a plea for help. He didn’t know how to explain it to his Master anymore.

He knew Master certainly hadn’t understood his meaning, but he believed Yun Huizhou understood his intent and his thoughts.

Otherwise, Yun Huizhou would have spoken of marriage directly yesterday instead of first confirming their relationship to date.

Receiving Lian Li’s look, Yun Huizhou gave a slight nod to show he understood. He then said to the South Island Lord, “Master, when Miss Qu and Brother Zhao were sixteen, they had already pledged their lives to one another, and both were single-mindedly devoted to the other. Yet, regarding marriage, they both consistently decided to wait a few years. Presumably, they had their own considerations.”

“Moreover, as long as we are serious enough about each other and responsible enough toward this relationship, marriage is merely a ceremony to proclaim it to the world. It won’t affect the feelings or the relationship between us.”

“However, regarding the matter of marriage, we will have to trouble Master to worry over it for us.”

Hearing Yun Huizhou say this, the South Island Lord nodded. “Then once you’ve decided to marry, just tell me. I’ll be keeping things ready for you regardless.”

He paused, then asked, “It’s just that for the two of you to marry, it naturally cannot follow the usual wedding procedures… Forget it, I’ll ask Xiyu when the time comes. If that doesn’t work, I’ll make a trip to the capital and find people who specialize in organizing weddings to let them plan it.”

Since he had put it that way, although Lian Li was a bit uncomfortable with the progress bar jumping so fast, he was also very moved in his heart.

“Then I’ll trouble Master.”

The South Island Lord nodded, and then, with a flash, he vanished from their residence.

It was quite a while after the South Island Lord had left before Lian Li finally snapped out of it.

Yun Huizhou reached out and waved a hand in front of his eyes, calling to him, “Come back to earth.”

Lian Li blinked and grabbed Yun Huizhou’s hand, saying, “Will we… really get married when the time comes?”

Yun Huizhou was somewhat surprised. “Do you still think it’s fake? Master has said so much with his own mouth, and you still think it’s fake? Or do you want to be a scumbag and not marry me? Do you just want to play with my feelings?”

Lian Li couldn’t help but raise his hand and punch Yun Huizhou in the chest. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

He had always thought that once the two of them confirmed their feelings, they would just stay together from then on. Letting their close friends and elders know about their relationship would be the end of it; he had never imagined they would actually have a wedding.

After all, in the modern world of his previous life, he had rarely seen same-sex couples being together and holding a wedding so openly.

Most stayed together quietly and lived their lives in silence, known to no one except a few close people.

He hadn’t expected that here, Yun Huizhou and Master would discuss this matter so naturally, as if it weren’t an issue at all.

To be honest, Lian Li was a bit dazed. Was his thinking too conservative?

He propped his face in his hands and asked Yun Huizhou, “From Master’s tone, it seems he doesn’t know how two men should marry? He probably hasn’t seen two men marry before and has no reference. If the two of us marry and even hold a grand ceremony… wouldn’t we be the first?”

“When the time comes, many people will probably discuss our marriage…” As he said this, Lian Li subconsciously frowned.

Seeing him frown for a split second, Yun Huizhou said, “Though rare, we likely won’t be the first. It’s just a matter of how many people know. Do you not want to be talked about?”

Lian Li’s eyes blinked rapidly, and then he asked Yun Huizhou, “What about you? Although I believe the people around us certainly aren’t dumbasses, there are so many people in the world. There will always be some whose brains don’t work right, who like to point fingers and hurl insults and slander at people they don’t even know and will never cross paths with.”

“Like that Feng Man from a year ago. There will never be a shortage of such inexplicably malicious people.”

Yun Huizhou replied, “As you said, we don’t know them and will never cross paths, so who cares what they say? Besides… I’d like to see if their mouths are harder, or if my blade is harder.”

Hearing this, Lian Li instantly broke into a wide smile. He said, “You’re right. Our business is fine as long as we’re happy and our friends and family are happy. If it really comes down to it, we’ll just pick a few examples, give them a sound thrashing, and beat them until they don’t dare open their mouths.”

“Haha, this gives me another reason to practice my martial arts well—to beat the mouths of those who gossip until they’re all swollen!”

Yun Huizhou propped his face with one hand and smiled as well. “And look at our Drunken Dream Island. Though we don’t have many people, the elders are each more powerful than the last. Anyone with a slightly clear head shouldn’t wag their tongues. Even if there are those with dark hearts, they can only say a few words behind our backs. If we hear it, we can just go straight to them.”